Campaigners have called on the government to prioritise bringing empty properties back into use after latest data showed that almost one million homes are currently unoccupied in England.

According to housing charity Action on Empty Homes, England currently has 998,784 vacant and second properties, of which 265,061 are classified as long-term empties – meaning they have not been lived in for at least six months. The figures indicate that the number of long-term empty homes has risen by 4,587 in the past year.

Rebecca Moore, director of Action on Empty Homes, said: “After more than a decade of intense housing crisis, people are asking how long-term empty homes in England can keep on rising, while 117,000 families and over 151,000 children are trapped in temporary accommodation, costing the nation £2bn a year.”

The increase comes despite local authorities being granted increased powers to levy council tax surcharges on homeowners who leave their properties unoccupied. As of April this year homes in England with no residents can be liable to a council tax premium of up to 100 per cent.

Moore suggests the government should now focus its attention on introducing a dedicated national programme to tackle vacant homes.

“What Action on Empty Homes, Crisis and Shelter are all calling for is a strategic and targeted approach to our national housing emergency to see homes brought into use to alleviate the worst impacts of homelessness fast,” she said. “Government needs to respond adequately and offer funding and incentives to get these homes back into use.

“Long-term empties are a missed opportunity to invest in and learn from retrofitting. Retrofitting empties is cheaper, faster and greener than building new homes, creating energy efficient homes, and building local skills.”

Action for Empty Homes put together its research from the latest government council tax data, which was released earlier this month.